It’s All Saints’ Day throughout the world—a day when Christians remember the saints that have gone before. Below, I share seven books that I’ve read recently, and it’s occured to me that each of my five-stars reads introduced me to characters who—though not saints in every sense—display a measure of saintliness that absolutely sets them apart.
Read MoreThe audiobooks on my drives to and from Minnesota, as well as books I’ve read for the “Sister Wolf” book club (at Beagle and Wolf Books in Park Rapids, MN), have been a welcome distraction from the excitement and stress of wedding planning. I’ve got some reviews and recommendations for you, so let’s get to it!
Read MoreWhile I get real satisfaction from turning real pages, I also really enjoy audiobooks. I love that I’m able to do other things (i.e. knit, clean house, and DRIVE!) while reading a book. I’m curious how common audiobooks are with my readers.
Read MoreThe past TWO months have been a little crazy as I finish up editing, publishing, and will soon be launching my book! So, with limited time for reading, I only finished TWO books. Because I have only TWO books to share, I’ll give you a few more gems to add truth, beauty, and goodness—or at least a little entertainment—to your life.
Read MoreIt goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway): there’s much turmoil, change, and upheaval in our world these days. And it’s hard. I managed to distract myself with some sister time and a mother-daughter visit over the past week, but whenever I turned on the news, I was hit with harsh reality again.
Read MoreI did something this week that I haven’t done in a long time. I spent the week as a total and complete homebody. For six days, I didn’t leave the house. Not even to get the mail. No, I wasn’t sick or laid up after hip surgery (like last year). I simply had nowhere to go.
Read MoreLooking back over this BookStack, I couldn’t help noticing the first three books I read were historical fiction, all with strong female characters at the center. I savored the history lessons and was reminded of the sacrifices our foremothers made, and of how far women’s voices have come. I’m thankful I live in a free America in 2024.
Read MoreSummer is winding down and thoughts are turning to football and pumpkin spice. Before we turn the page to autumn, let’s look back at our summer reading.
I finished seven books in July and August, which keeps me on track (and four books ahead!) for my goal of 36 books in 2024.
Read MoreSince the beginning of 2024, I’ve taken one newsletter every two months to review my recent reads. Not only does it keep me on track for my reading goals and push me to leave reviews online, but it’s also inspired at least some of you, my dear readers, to pick up a book, try an author you’ve not read before, or explore a new genre.
Read MoreMy March-April BookStack includes two non-fiction, one memoir, and five fiction reads. There’s quite a mix, with a dystopian classic, time-travel story, 1950s murder mystery, present-day “Romantic Comedy”, and a historical fiction account of a 1960s rock band.
Read MoreThings get better. Things get worse. In seven years, many things can change. Despite global pandemics, wars and rumors of war, contentious elections, devastating earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires…our planet keeps spinning and circling and predictably falling in line with its moon and the sun at exactly the moment it's supposed to. I find that pretty miraculous!
Read MoreMy BookStack (an offshoot of my “Substack”) is the stack of books I’ve read, reviewed, and might recommend to you. Even though many of the books I “read” are audiobooks or on my Kindle, I like to imagine a BIG stack of books I’ve finished on my nightstand or bookshelf at the end of each month.
Read MorePerhaps you’ve heard the slogan ringing in this new year: Do More in 2024!
I don’t know about you, but the thought of doing more after the past few weeks of shopping, decorating, baking, cooking, and entertaining makes me want to crawl in a hole and hide.
If I did though, I would take a book with me.
Read MoreHow many times have you asked for a recipe and then, when you pulled it from your files, forever connected it to the person who first shared it?
Read MoreHow was your week? Here's a rundown of mine, some recommended memoirs, and a story about work and rest.
Read MoreIn my younger years, the “Hearts at Home” conference was my happy place.
One of the speakers who always impressed me was Jill Savage, the founder of the organization. So imagine my surprise when my path crossed Jill’s again, this time when I was two years into my empty-nest years! It all happened through a series of fortunate events.
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